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The Changing Dynamics of Twenty-First-Century Space Power

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The Changing Dynamics of Twenty-First-Century Space Power The Changing Dynamics of Twenty-First-Century Space Power James Clay Moltz1 Abstract Many recent assessments of space power have posited a US decline and predicted a gloomy future in comparison to China and Russia. However, such analyses—based almost exclusively on state-run activities— present only part of the picture. In the twenty-first century, a new form of bottom-up, net-centric, commercially led space innovation is emerg- ing that promises cheaper and more timely technological developments to those nations that can effectively tap into them, thus reshaping tra- ditional definitions of space power. This study first sets a baseline by focusing on Cold War space power determinants, next analyzes recent changes among the three leading spacefaring nations, and then looks into the future, factoring in the expanded role of commercial space start- ups and military space alliances. The article concludes that new forms of networked space power could put the United States in a more favor- able position than countries relying on state-controlled innovation and development. Traditional measures of space power have focused on the activities of a nation’s military and civil space programs. This common emphasis comes from the Cold War when the United States and the Soviet Union created well-funded, government-run, and largely military-led (and sometimes secret) space programs to “show the flag,” support their operational forces and intelligence needs, and prevent surprise nuclear attacks. Since James Clay Moltz is chairman of the Department of National Security Affairs at the Naval Post- graduate School, where he also holds a joint professorship in the Space Systems Academic Group. His recent books include The Politics of Space Security: Strategic Restraint and the Pursuit of National Interests, 3rd ed. (Stanford University Press, 2019); Crowded Orbits: Conflict and Cooperation in Space (Columbia University Press, 2014); and Asia’s Space Race: National Motivations, Regional Rivalries, and International Risks (Columbia University Press, 2012). 66 Strategic Studies Quarterly ♦ Spring 2019 The Changing Dynamics of Twenty-First-Century Space Power the early 2000s, China has entered this club with a large-scale space pro- gram run by its military while also conducting civil human spaceflight and a range of scientific and quasi-commercial activities. After a decade of severe decline in the 1990s, Russia’s space program has rebounded under President Vladimir Putin and, according to some accounts, is set to surpass Soviet achievements, especially regarding new military capa- bilities, including counterspace.2 According to some popular and expert reports, the United States is falling behind in comparison to these rising and revanchist space powers.3 As Vice President Michael Pence stated at the first meeting of the newly revived National Space Council in the fall of 2017: “America seems to have lost our edge in space.”4 US military leaders are legitimately concerned. US intelligence officials recently released an assessment stating that Russia will likely deploy new antisatellite weapons within the next few years for use against US space assets.5 US Strategic Command’s Gen John Hyten also stated recently, “From a defense perspective, the isolation [as a result of Western sanc- tions] has not slowed the Russian modernization program . on the space side.”6 Russia also remains the only country currently delivering US astronauts to the International Space Station and continues to pro- duce the main engine used in the United States’ Atlas V rocket, setting up uncomfortable dependencies for the United States. Regarding China, Air Force Lt Gen Steven Kwast has argued that Beijing has a relative advantage in its preparedness for space conflict, stating, “In my best military judgment, China is on a 10-year journey to operationalize space. We’re on a 50-year journey.”7 In civil space, a major US news magazine recently concluded that, in contrast to cur- rently vague US goals, “China is boldly moving ahead with its own space exploration efforts, and with little ambiguity about its mission,”8 given its continuing manned spaceflights, new Hainan Island launch site, and plans for larger boosters. Finally, military analyst Brian Chow says that the United States is facing “a new game-changing threat under development in China and Russia” in the form of spacecraft with robotic arms that might quickly disable US military satellites in a conflict.9 Such negative assessments of US space power are based on traditional determinants, which presume that capabilities emerge almost exclusively from top-down, government funded, and largely military-led efforts, where centralization, national Strategic Studies Quarterly ♦ Spring 2019 67 James Clay Moltz autonomy, and secrecy play key roles. Aspects of these trends are indeed worrisome. However, do they tell the whole story? Or are there other factors that need to be considered in evaluating comparative twenty- first-century space power? Traditional, state-run approaches to space security have led authors to three assumptions: (1) that war in space is inevitable, (2) that nations will have to rely exclusively on their assets for fighting in space, and (3) that space wars will be dominated by offensive strategies, as opposed to space- based defensive or deterrent approaches. One of the leading realist scholars on space power, Everett Dolman, makes this case, “if some state or organization should desire to contest or control space, denying the fruits thereof to another state, there is simply no defense against such action—there is only deterrence through the threat of asymmetric, Earth-centered retaliation.”10 However, new conditions may facilitate other options, such as space- based deterrence by denial. A state may, over time, create a resilient con- stellation of hundreds of networked satellites (national, commercial, and allied) that may be able to convince an adversary that its forces will not be able to accomplish their objective of denying space-derived informa- tion. In 2016, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Douglas Loverro stated in congressional testimony, “we must remove the likelihood that attacks in space will succeed. Strangely enough, there are those who believe that we cannot do this… That conclusion would be untrue.”11 In the modern world, technological, economic, social, scientific, and even military dimensions of power have begun to shift from the national to the international context. This point suggests that space power will also be affected by globalization and interdependence, where networks and success in innovation are becoming at least as important as national government capabilities in creating power and influence. Indeed, the highly nationalistic and state-focused strategies of Russia and China may in the future represent anachronisms rather than cutting-edge ap- proaches to space security. At the same time, new forms of networked space power could offer the United States a distinct advantage. If this is true, then assessments of comparative future power in space must be reexamined and, possibly, recalculated based on new measures. As Loverro argues regarding the proper response to the threats posed by Russia and China in space, “the US response is clear—we must leverage our two natural and sustained space advantages: the US commercial/ 68 Strategic Studies Quarterly ♦ Spring 2019 The Changing Dynamics of Twenty-First-Century Space Power entrepreneurial space sector, and our ability to form coalitions with our space-faring allies.”12 If such comparative advantages can be exploited to supplement national assets and eventually transform narrow, national defensive ca- pabilities into more robust architectures, then the autonomous, highly centralized, military-led, nationalistic, and secretive space programs that dominated the Cold War period could face new challenges of their own against more resilient, networked space coalitions. A key variable affecting these trends is the future nature of space innovation. Will traditional state-run programs lead it or instead will it be led by commercial actors, who may move more quickly in responding to market conditions and in developing new technologies? These dynamics merit particular at- tention, as effective innovation will be the main driver of future space transformation and, consequently, changes in space power. This article first presents a brief history of the Cold War and the “technocratic” approach to space power. It then assesses how the United States—after riding high in the 1990s—suffered relative declines in the military and civil space sectors after 2000 compared to Russia and China. Next, it reconsiders emerging trends in space activity and the increasing (and often discounted) role of the commercial space sector, especially start-up innovators. It also considers the potential contributions of mili- tary space allies, proposing a new concept for space power via networked capabilities. Finally, the article assesses future US, Chinese, and Russian prospects in space. It concludes that the United States—thanks to its vi- brant commercial space sector and its emerging partnerships with space- proficient allies—has greater potential than its rivals to retain (and even expand) its future space power and influence. However, this will require continued US national commitment to space and favorable policies in regard to the commercial sector and US allies. A Brief History of Cold War Space Power Looking back at Cold War trends in space power
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